Jürgen Klopp is in advanced negotiations to become Germany's next head coach, the former Liverpool manager has confirmed, declaring himself fully refreshed after stepping away from football in 2024.

Speaking from New York in his role as a pundit for German broadcaster Magenta TV, Klopp confirmed the German football federation had approached him following Julian Nagelsmann's resignation on Friday — four days after Germany were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay in the last 32 of the World Cup.

"About two years ago I stopped at Liverpool and said that I lacked the energy for another job," Klopp said. "Since then I'm more than recharged, I'm ready."

The federation's preferred candidate

A statement released by the German football federation named Klopp explicitly as someone who had "signalled his willingness" to take charge, making him the clear frontrunner to succeed Nagelsmann. No other candidate was mentioned by name.

Klopp acknowledged, however, that finalising an agreement will take time. He currently holds a contract as head of global football for Red Bull's network of clubs — a role he took on after departing Anfield — and any move into international management would require that situation to be resolved first.

He stressed the need for "intensive talks" with federation officials before anything could be signed off, insisting he would only take the position if there was a genuine shared vision for how German football needs to change.

A programme, not just a post

Klopp was unsparing in his assessment of Germany's current standing. The nation has now failed to reach the last 16 at three consecutive men's World Cups, and their only knockout victory since winning the 2014 final against Argentina remains that tournament's decisive match itself.

"German football is obviously at a turning point now," he said. "We need to change things fundamentally. Whether that's me in the end or whoever it may be, that doesn't change the fact that changes are necessary."

He was careful not to lay blame at Nagelsmann's door, describing the outgoing coach as an "excellent" manager who had inherited structural problems larger than any individual could be held responsible for.

The rebuild ahead

Whoever takes the job — and the noises out of Frankfurt suggest it will be Klopp — will inherit a side badly in need of a reset. The squad that stumbled out of this World Cup has been unable to string together a knockout run for over a decade, and the federation appears to accept that cosmetic changes will not be enough.

Klopp's presence at the tournament as a high-profile commentator has kept him firmly in the public eye throughout the competition. In the immediate aftermath of the Paraguay defeat, he told reporters he had not been thinking about the Germany post — a position that has clearly shifted in the days since Nagelsmann stood down.

The market is already moving on the assumption that a deal will be struck. Should the negotiations conclude successfully, Klopp would begin what would arguably be the most significant rebuilding project of his career — and one that carries the weight of an entire footballing nation's expectations.

Frequently asked

Why did Julian Nagelsmann resign as Germany manager?
Nagelsmann resigned on Friday, 3 July 2026, four days after Germany were eliminated from the World Cup on penalties by Paraguay in the last 32. It was the third consecutive men's World Cup in which Germany failed to reach the last 16.
What is Klopp's current job before the Germany talks?
Since leaving Liverpool in 2024, Klopp has been working as head of global football for Red Bull's network of clubs. His contract there is one of the factors that needs resolving before any deal with the German federation can be finalised.
When was the last time Germany won a World Cup knockout match?
Germany's last World Cup knockout victory was the 2014 final, when they beat Argentina. They have not won a knockout game at the tournament in the twelve years since.